Daur February 28 (29) ➤

people with the same family their whole ethnic group name (hala) live in the same come to Christ. group of three or four villages. Each hala is then RUSSIA comprised of several clans

(mokon) who live in the •Hailar same village. On his Morindawa• MONGOLIA • wedding day, a Daur • bridegroom must fetch his JILIN Scale bride at sunrise and make a 0 KM 400 present of wine, meat, and Population in : pastry to everyone he meets 116,000 (1990) on the way — whether he 149,600 (2000) knows them or not. After the 193,000 (2010) Location: ceremony the Daur enjoy an Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia afternoon of horse races. Religion: Shamanism The sport of field hockey Christians: 1,000 may have been invented by Overview of the Daur the Daur. They are first Countries: China, Russia mentioned as playing hockey Pronunciation: “Dao-urh” in the History of the Liao Other Names: Dagur, Dagour, Dynasty (916–1125).9 Dawar, Dawo’er, Tahur, Thauerh, Daghur, Dahur, Daor Population Source: Religion: For centuries each 121,357 (1990 census);10 Midge Conner Daur clan has depended 94,014 (1982 census); 63,394 (1964 census); Location: Approximately and assimilation to upon shamans. No wedding, Also in Russia 150,000 Daur live in Mongolian or Chinese burial, long journey, or any Location: W Heilongjiang: Qiqihar northeastern China. Most culture and language. other important event was (21,748), Fuyu (5,932); are concentrated on both Longjiang, Nehe, Nenjiang and attempted without first Aihu counties; sides of the Nenjiang River Language: Most Daur can consulting the shaman. He, E Inner Mongolia: Morindawa in the Morindawa Banner of still speak their language, in turn, contacted the spirit (26,289), Ewenki (13,929), Elenchun (6,369) counties; Inner Mongolia, as well as in which has been described realm and announced, for a Also Zalantun City (4,810) several counties in the as “an aberrant, and in fee, whether an event Status: western part of Heilongjiang some respects, archaic should take place or not. An official minority of China Province.1 A significant branch of northern Some of the Daur who live Language: Altaic, Mongolian, number of Daur also live in Mongolian.”5 The exceptions Eastern Mongolian, Daur alongside Mongolians have Literacy: 81% Russia. A Daur chief named are the Daur living in Aihui embraced Tibetan Dialects (3): Gantimur led 300 of his and Hulan counties who Buddhism. Bataxan, Hailar, Qiqihar people to Russia in 1666.2 switched to speaking Religion: Shamanism, Animism, 6 Tibetan Buddhism, Christianity, Until this century, their Chinese in the 1930s. Christianity: Until recently No Religion homeland was known to the the Daur in China were a Christians: 1,000 Russians as Dauria. By History: The Daur were first completely unreached Scripture: None 1882 Gantimur’s mentioned in Chinese people with no knowledge of Jesus film: Available descendants in Russia records in AD 620. They are the gospel. In the early Gospel Recordings: Daur #04776 numbered 10,489, most of thought to be the “remnants 1990s missionaries showed Christian Broadcasting: None whom had converted to of the Chinese garrison left the Jesus film in Mandarin ROPAL code: DTA00 Russian Orthodox by the Tan tai-tszui to the Daur. In a short time, 3 7 Christianity. (618–626).” A portion of more than 1,000 Daur Status of Evangelization this garrison were became Christians. The 74% Identity: The Daur are one committed to fox hunting Jesus film is now available of the 55 official minority and were called dahuli in the Daur language. In 8 groups in China. In the past (those who hunt foxes). The 1997 the new Daur church 25% they were a larger and more Daur fought against Tsarist faced persecution from the influential group than today. Russia and also opposed authorities, but the believers 1% In 1928 there were as many Japan from 1937 to 1945. stood firm in their faith. The 4 A B C as 300,000 Daur in China. Daur Christians are actively A = Have never heard the gospel Their numbers have Customs: Daur society is involved in evangelism and B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians dwindled this century mainly divided into a hierarchical have a deep burden to see C = Are adherents to any form of as a result of war, disease, structure. Each group of Christianity

108 DAUR